Giblet Gravy Recipe
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Giblet Gravy is a flavorful, classic Southern-style homemade turkey gravy that can be made without drippings. This old-fashioned giblet gravy recipe is perfect served with roast turkey, cornbread dressing, and mashed potatoes.
Looking for more sauce and gravy recipes? I think you’ll love my easy make-ahead classic turkey gravy recipe and my cranberry sauce.
Have you ever wondered what to do with that little packet that comes stuffed inside of your whole chicken or turkey? Friends, don’t toss it! I have good news on how you can use it for old-fashioned, delicious turkey gravy. Make my Grandmother’s easy Giblet Gravy recipe! This was always her Thanksgiving gravy and for other special holiday meals, like Christmas dinner. It is a must-have dish to serve with roast turkey, chicken, and cornbread dressing. Along with my easy turkey gravy, you’ll definitely find this at my family’s Thanksgiving dinner table.
What is Giblet Gravy?
Giblet Gravy is a classic old-fashioned Southern gravy. This gravy recipe is made with the giblets and neck of a turkey, along with hard-boiled eggs. The giblets are the heart, liver, and gizzard of the turkey. Giblets and the neck are usually packaged inside the whole turkey or chicken cavity. They add an additional depth of flavor to this turkey gravy recipe. They make a savory, flavorful homemade gravy recipe.
If you like egg-free gravy, you can omit the eggs from this recipe.
Ingredients
Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.
- Turkey giblets and neck – they add a meaty flavor to this amazing gravy
- Butter – Use salted or unsalted butter based on your preference.
- Turkey stock – You can also use turkey broth, chicken stock or chicken broth, or turkey drippings if you have them. I have included how to make your own stock below.
- Cream of chicken soup – I use 1 1/2 cups of my homemade cream of chicken soup, but store-bought is great in this easy gravy recipe.
- Hard-boiled egg – If you prefer without an egg, you can simply omit it.
Optional ingredients:
Additional seasonings: The cream of chicken soup is already seasoned, but you may want additional salt and black pepper based on your tastes. Some people also enjoy adding a pinch of poultry seasoning.
Fresh herbs: You can also add fresh herbs based on your preferences, such as thyme, sage, and rosemary.
How to Make Giblet Gravy
Making this giblet gravy includes a few steps, but it is an easy recipe.
Remove the giblets and neck from the turkey and place them into a medium saucepan over medium heat.
Pour the turkey stock into the saucepan. Add enough cold water to cover the meat completely. Simmer on mediumlow heat until cooked thoroughly, about 20 minutes.
Remove the cooked giblets and neck from the homemade giblet stock with a slotted spoon and place them into a bowl to cool.
Add the butter and cream of chicken soup to the drippings. Stir to combine and allow to simmer.
Remove the meat from the neck and chop it with the rest of the giblet meat.
Chop one boiled egg. Add the egg along with the chopped meat to the gravy.
Stir to combine and serve.
Serve the delicious gravy over hot southern cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes, turkey, or chicken.
Make Ahead Turkey Giblet Gravy Recipe
- To store: Make the gravy ahead of time according to the recipe. Allow to cool and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- To reheat and serve: Pour the gravy into a saucepan and thoroughly heat.
How to Make Turkey Stock
Place the turkey legs in a Dutch oven or stockpot. Add salt and pepper and cover with water. Cook on a low simmer, covered until the meat is tender and the stock is thick and colorful about 4 hours. Add more water if needed to keep the turkey covered with water while cooking. Remove the turkey legs from the stock and refrigerate them for future recipes.
Can You Freeze Giblet Gravy?
I do not recommend freezing this gravy as it is a cream-based gravy that will separate. I’ve included the instructions for make-ahead giblet gravy above.
How Do You Know if Your Turkey Contains Giblets?
The giblets and neck are usually packaged and inserted inside the whole turkey or chicken cavity. Sometimes they are packaged into multiple bags. Check carefully. You may have to thaw your turkey to be able to remove the giblets.
Lately, I have heard that some processors do not return the package of giblets and the neck to the turkey. I recommend you ask the butcher at your store’s meat department to make sure that the turkey you select includes the giblets and the neck for making the gravy. When you buy directly from a farmer, you can request them as well.
Here’s my family’s classic Giblet Gravy recipe. It is delicious served with your Thanksgiving turkey and as part of your Christmas dinner. I can’t wait to hear how you like it.
Giblet Gravy Recipe
Ingredients
- Giblets and neck from Turkey
- 2 cups chicken stock or broth
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 1/2 cups cream of chicken soup
- 1 boiled egg
Instructions
- Remove giblets and neck from turkey. Place in a medium saucepan. Add chicken broth and cover with water. Simmer over low heat until well cooked. Remove giblets and neck from saucepan.
- Add butter and cream of chicken soup into saucepan. Allow to simmer over low heat. Remove meat from neck and chop. Chop giblets and egg. Add back to saucepan and allow to simmer over low heat until hot.
- Serve over dressing.
Notes
- To store: Prepare the gravy according to the recipe. Allow to cool and then cover tightly and place in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- To reheat and serve: Pour the gravy into a saucepan and thoroughly heat as you are removing the turkey from the oven to rest.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
This is exactly how my grandmother in southwest Georgia made hers, and my mom, too! I have always put chopped, boiled egg in mine, and occasionally heard a doubtful “I’ve never heard of adding THAT before.” I always replied, “That’s the way we do it in the Deep South!” Now I have proof in an actual recipe, lol :-). Thank you!
A True Southern Tradition. Just like mom’s
My sister and husband looks forward to this dressing it’s so moist and good my mouth waters great recipe I use every year
Thanks so much! xo
I love this recipe
Thanks Ashley! Enjoy it!
Yum! Thanks for sharing. I just don’t believe in gravy in a jar. A little giblet gravy drizzled over the turkey and dressing just makes it in my opinion! So glad to know how to make it now!
I was so eager to read your traditional family recipe as I thoroughly enjoy your site. I was surprised that your recipe is a real shortcut opting to use canned soup as a base. My family recipe and the recipe of so many others that I know create fabulous gravy the old fashioned way from scratch which delivers so much more flavor and is not difficult to make either. Let me know if you would like another recipe. I loved your pictorial though =]
Thanks so much for your comment, Cathy!
Would you like to post your recipe? I’d love it if you’d consider doing that for anyone who would prefer to use it over the cream of chicken soup version that my family uses.
We always wondered what to do with all that stuff. I have now bookmarked this page so no excuses for us this year! Thank you
Did you just add an EGG to that gravy? I think I love you. GENIUS!!!
Robyn, I love ya like a sistah, you know I do, but golly your food makes me drool, and drool, leads to eating this delicious stuff, and eating makes my hiney grow. 😉
I’ve always been somewhat intimidated by giblet gravy, but yours looks delicious!
Robyn, great photo tutorial. I’m getting Thanksgiving hunger pangs reading it. 🙂